Made By Jesus
Opening Prayer
Lord, show me how to fill my life with the hallmarks of knowing and loving You.
Read Colossians 3:12-17
[12] Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. [13] Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. [14] And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. [15] Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. [16] Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. [17] And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What qualities of the Christian life does Paul mention?In Saturday’s reading, we found out about the lifestyle clothes we’ve taken off. Today’s passage looks at what we put on (12). When we get dressed to go out, we usually start with underwear, which provides a foundation for top clothes, which in turn a coat can go over. It seems to me that verses 12-14 are a bit like that. The qualities listed in verse 12 are foundational to our being able to bear with one another and forgive those actions that grieve us (13). The overcoat of love holds the rest together, protects us, and enables us to act as Christ would. Some of our literal clothing has the name of the designer printed on its label. Similarly, Paul encourages the Colossians to be “rooted and built up” (cf. 2:7) in the teachings of Christ, so that every action and word may have “Made by Jesus” stamped on it to show its origins. If this sounds difficult to attain–well, it is! But when we fail (and we will), the forgiveness of Christ (13) is freely available and helps us to try again.
Apply
Who do you need to bear with? Who do you need to forgive? Who could you build up with songs of the Lord?
Closing prayer
Whatever you’re going on to do now, pray that it will have “Made by Jesus” stamped on it.
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